Park Slope Eye This video represent a typical situation. A patients eye was irritating her and she thought it would go away if she just left it alone. Unfortunately it did not. The reason being, was that there was a piece of metal embedded on the underneath of her eyelid! With the right equipment, this was easy to remove. Luckily this did not cause any scratches on her eye and was easy to treat. If your eye doesn’t feel right, get it checked out. The longer you wait the more discomfort you will suffer and the more damage that can occur. With out the proper equipment, this could have easily been missed. Only an eye doc will have the right equipment to really get the job done optimally.

OSSO is a non-profit, independent organization founded in 2008. The mission of this organization is to increase the awareness and advance the understanding and management of dry eye and ocular surface disease among optometric practitioners, industry, and researchers.

I’m happy to report that I have confirmed that NYC Dept. Of Sanitation will recycle the foil along with your normal metal recyclables!!! We will collect the foil here, but I encourage you to just recycle it with your metals at home. Double check with your department of sanitation to make sure this applies to your area of the country.

Park Slope Parents is a great resource for raising children in Park Slope. Guess who is on their list of recommended optometrists? 🙂

Here is what a recent PSParent had to say about PSEye:

Author: Review from Yahoo Group

Date: 2009-05-15 09:20:07

I have been wearing contact lenses for many years and recently began
to have discomfort. I mentioned this to my eye doctor in Brooklyn
Heights whom I had been seeing for many years and they suggested that
it was due to age and/or the eyes rejection of contact lenses. They
offered to do a lense fitting but it was costly and it would take time
to get another appointment. Before ditching contacts completely, I
decided to try Park Slope Eye and am very glad I did. They have a
wonderful facility and staff. The office is clean, friendly and very
helpful. Mary offered to check with my insurance and see what
benefits I receive (while also offering me a drink). Dr. Bazan gave
me a very thorough eye exam and had me walking out with two different
and very comfortable lenses to try. Not only did he fit me with the
appropriate eye wear but he was also clearly knowledgeable about eye
care and informed with up-to-date information on contact lenses. I
will not look for another eye doctor again! I highly recommend this
eye care establishment.

Park Slope Eye is lucky to have such tech savy people as our patients and clients. Social networking is a great way to stay up on what we are doing and it allows you to take advantage of exclusive offers. Thank You for you continued support both in and out of PSEye.

Most contagious pink eyes are viral or bacterial in nature. If it is bacterial in nature, we treat it with strong antibiotics and in a day or so, you are no longer contagious and the eye is well on its way to making a full recovery. If its viral in nature, it is likely from the highly contagious adenovirus. Unfortunately, antibiotics do not work on viral pink eye, and you will often remain highly contagious for several days.

Park Slope Eye knows that you need to know how contagious you are so you can plan appropriately and so that our doctors can treat and manage your condition appropriately. Nobody wants to hear that they caused a pink eye out break at home, work or school! PSEye has acquired the RPS Adeno Detector to aid assuring that does not occur. The RPS Adeno Detector is a quick, painless, in office test that will aid in determining if your pink eye stems from the highly contagious adenovirus.

Knowing that you have viral pink eye you have will save you from buying costly antibiotics, help to stop the spread of the highly contagious virus, allow you to inform work/school of your absence, and allow you to receive the apporiate treatment. PSEye feels that those things are pretty important, and we encourage you to ask your eye care provider if they have the ability to test to determine which type of pink eye you really have.

Eyeliner is a huge source of eye problems, especially if you are caking it on all over the lid margins, covering up the oil glands. The clear spots in the black field of eyeliner are oil glands that I uncovered by pressing on them. What is the big deal about covered up oil glands? Well if the oil is not coming out easily, it will not be able to get onto your eyes and your tear film will be less than optimal, often times making your eyes uncomfortable and unable to wear contacts comfortably. You do not have to stop wearing eyeliner, just keep it towards the front of the lid margin, away from those oil glands!

Dr. Bazan is delighted to accept his assignment as an Examiner for the National Board Clinical Skills Examination. Examiners make a major contribution to the assessment of competence for the practice of optometry. Please excuse my absence from Park Slope Eye on 4/25 and 4/26.

Park Slope Eye is proud to announce that we will now be recycling used contact lens blister packs (see above). Blister packs are made of polypropylene as denoted by the #5 recycle symbol. Unfortunately, you can not currently place these with your other plastic recyclables because there is no NYC Dept. of Sanitation program to recycle them.

Save them up, and bring them by. I will ensure their delivery to the proper recycling facility. Just please remember to remove the foil from the plastic.

3-d, really impressive 3-d is almost upon us in a big way. Hopefully all of us will be able to enjoy the amazing images without issue. Some of us, may be wondering what the heck is just so impressive and find ourselves not really noticing much difference. But why? In order for you to appreciate the 3-d, your eyes must be aiming and focusing appropriately and as a team. If they are unable to do so, you will be unable to view in 3-d. Time for an eye exam?

“Doc why are you changing my brand of contacts? I’ve worn them with no issues for 10+ yrs and I’m pretty happy with them.”

Good question. The bottom line is probably because your eye doctor cares about your personal eye health and wants you to continue on for another 10 years without issue. Often times an eye doctor will pick up on subtle damage to your eyes caused by long term contact lens wear that you have no clue is occurring. If those early warning signs are there, by taking action now, one can often avoid more serious future issues. Even if your eyes are healthy, your eye doctor may be switching you into a contact that will give you the best chance of keeping them that way.

When evaluating a new type of contact, it is important to keep in mind that the new contacts will feel different because they are different. Its not uncommon for you to experience the same things you did when you initially tried contacts for the first time. Your eye doctor might even prescribe some drops that will help to provide some extra comfort during the adaptation. The follow up exam that you will make an appointment for, will give us the opportunity to evaluate things and make any necessary changes, which can even include trying a differnt brand.

As always, it is advisable to seek a second opinon if you feel your care was anyhthing less than the best. One may also learn about a particluar doctors philosphies by reading his bio or checking into his practice.

Your medical insurance may often cover routine eyecare. If you are coming in with healthy and normal eyes, you are coming in for a routine eyecare. Routine eyecare may be covered by your medical insurance like BCBS, and can also be covered by a stand alone vision plan, like VSP. It is all pretty confusing, but Park Slope Eye is dedicated to figuring out the details for you. Let us help save you money by making sure you are utilizing your full benefits.

We also like to know who your medical carrier is because if there is a medical eye condition, they most often will be able to cover your costs. Additionally, if a referral needs to be made, it will help get you to the most appropriate doctor.

To better understand the specifics of what is covered by vision and medical insurance, please read the blog entry, posted here.

Vision and Medical insurance are both accepted at Park Slope Eye, however they often provide coverage for different services. Because of the staggering diversity and complexity of insurance plans, we would like to simplify the process by providing you with specific information regarding your plan. Please contact the office directly to utilize this service.

Vision plans are primarily for routine eye exams, glasses, and contacts only. A routine eye exam is for patients that have no medical eye problems or known eye health issues. The goal of a routine eye exam is to prove that your eyes are perfectly healthy and to discover unknown problems.

If a patient presents with an eye problem, such as pinkeye, glaucoma, or dry eye, this office visit is can be billed to medical insurance, not a vision plan. See the list below for some common medical presenting conditions. Your vision plan may be utilized in addition to your medical plan to provide coverage for additional services and products such as glasses and contacts.

Vision Plans Cover Refractive Care. Ie. What a pair of glasses or contacts can correct.

Dr. Bonilla-Warford of Bright Eyes did another great job of generating a Top Ten New Year’s Resolution list. Below is the article which can also be found at his outstanding blog, http://brighteyesnews.com/ . Great Job!

The Top Ten New Year’s Resolutions for Children Vision

By brighteyesnews

It is that time of year again. Time for finishing off those holiday cookies and preparing for a happier, healthier, more prosperous new year. A year ago I posted the Ten New Year’s Resolutions for Your Eye Heath. This year I will turn my attention to children’s vision. So without further ado…

One of the best things you can do is simply spend some time reading books and doing homework with your children. Watch them and talk to them about what they are seeing and what if feels like when they read. Compare what you find with this symptom checklist.

3) Have Their Eyes and Vision Examined

Have your children had an full eye exam? (A simple screenings done at school or the pediatrician doesn’t count.) If they haven’t, then make 2009 the year. The American Optometric Association recommends the first eye exam at age six months, followed by age three years and then before entering school. This exam should be thorough and evaluate all aspects of vision. You can find additional useful information about this at the Vision First Foundation.

4) Bring Their Glasses in for Adjustment and Cleaning

All children who wear glasses – especially boys – get them bent up a little bit. Sometimes a lot. Often the temples are crooked and the nosepads are flattened down. Don’t hesitate to come by Bright Eyes and have the staff adjust and clean their glasses. You might be amazed how much difference it can make!

5) Consider Contacts

Many parents think that their children are too young for contacts. Sometimes they are correct that the child and family simply are not ready for contacts. However, contacts frequently provide better vision than glasses and is the best option for a child – if the parents are ready. You can read my post about this here.

6) Consider the Need for Sports Eye Protection

Many of my young patients participate in organized supports such as baseball, football, or basketball. For these patients, prescription sports goggles are a good idea. First, their use will limit sports-related eye injuries. Second, the improved vision sports eyewear provide may significantly improve their performance on the field.

7) Ensure They are Using Good Visual Ergonomics

Most people are familiar with ergonomics to help them function more comfortable and efficiently. This also applies to vision. Ensure that your kids take frequent breaks from activities such as reading and video games. Watch to see if they hold books or video games very close, which can cause eye strain. When reading and writing a slant-board is helpful. Read more here.

Have them wear their sunglasses.

We live Florida. It is sunny, even in January. Most of my patients have sunglasses and most of their kids do, too. But parents often forget to have their kids wear them. They’ll go outside and put on the SPF 45 sunblock – which is a good idea – but then forget the eye protection. It is not too early to start preventing problems!

9) Myopia Progression

If you are concerned about your child’s rapid development of nearsightedness, there may be some options to consider. First, Precise Corneal Reshaping may not only temporarily eliminates nearsightedness, but has been shown in studies to reduce progression of myopia. Additionally, some children may benefit from additional options such as bifocal glasses, bifocal contacts, or vision therapy. Only a comprehensive eye exam can indicate what is most appropriate.

10) Pass this along to anyone who has kids!

If you know a family member or has children, pass this info along. Especially if there are visual problems in the family.

I hope everyone has a fantastic 2009! If you have any questions about this list, or anything else eye-related, feel free to call 813-792-0637 or stop by the office.

Get Your Eyes Checked
Failing vision can be a symptom of other health problems
By Kenneth Terrell
Posted December 18, 2008

If the last time you had your eyes checked was when you renewed your driver’s license years ago, you could be cruising for trouble. The American Optometric Association recommends that adults get their eyes checked every two years (or every year for those ages 61 and older). Yet in a 2007 survey the group conducted, 35 percent of the respondents who do not use corrective lenses admitted that they haven’t had their eyes checked in five years or more (22 percent said they have never had their eyes checked by a specialist). And that’s despite the fact that nearly half of those surveyed said they feared blindness more than losing their memory, hearing, or the ability to walk.

Regular eye exams can help you stay ahead of vision problems like glaucoma and macular degeneration. But an eye exam has benefits beyond preserving your vision. Failing eyesight can be a sign of other illnesses. In some people, a comprehensive eye exam can detect serious illnesses including diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and some cancers.

Driving at night is just about the hardest thing we do with our eyes. Since moving out of Manhattan and into an area where people actually drive their own cars, I have heard the difficulties of night driving commonly vocalized. Let’s do something to make it easier.

What can one do? In order to add ease and confidence to your night driving experiences, start with a basic comprehensive eye exam. Do those lights look blurry and glarry because the power of your Rx is less than optimal? Could the natural lens in your eye have developed some cloudiness? Is your vision blurring out because of your dry eyes? A great exam will help ensure that both your eyes and your Rx are perfect. So, for starters, get seen by the best to see your best.

If you choose to fill your Rx in a pair of glasses, choosing the right lenses is crucial to keeping you clear and comfortable while on the road at night. Mary McRae, ABO co-owner of Park Slope Eye had this to say:

“Having a good quality anti reflective coating, like Crizal Alize or Avance, is imperative to seeing well at night. Anti reflective coatings allow more light to transmit through the lens and more directly to your retina. Lenses without the coating reflect a lot of light, and therefore the light that reaches the retina is scattered and less focused. For instance, we have patients who complain of car headlights looking like star bursts, and this is easily resolved with this coating.
Having clean lenses that are scratch-free is also very important because it will reduce additional scattered light. Light transmits better through a smooth surface, versus through damaged lenses. To keep your lenses in great shape, we recommend using eyeglass cleaner from Park Slope Eye to clean your glasses, but tap water with lotion-free dish soap also works well. Afterward, use a cleaning cloth or soft cotton cloth (not your clothes) to dry your lenses. You definitely want to avoid using tissue products to dry your lenses and never use window cleaner because the ammonia will destroy your lenses. These tips will not only reduce glare dramatically while driving at night, but also keep your glasses looking great!”

Ok, so now your proven healthy eyes are sitting behind the ideal pair of eyewear and you are now behind the wheel. Its your typical BKNY winter night and the amount of potholes in the road seemed to have doubled, the lane size has halved and of course its raining. You may still feel very uncomfortable behind the wheel but at least we now know its not your eyes Rx or glasses. So what else can one do?

Here is what works for me. Think of your windshield as the lenses in your glasses. Remember what Mary said about making sure they are clean, and that they have non-glare coatings? Well your windshield can be optimized the same way.

First, think of you windshield as a pair of glasses. Just like your glasses that have special coatings to help you see better, your windshield should also have a special coating to help you see better. Hit the car wash, get the windows as clean as possible, then apply a product like RainEx or Aquapel to them. Some car washes even have this as an option, mine does, and its awesome. This greatly enhances your visibility, especially at night in the rain, the toughest condition to drive in for most.

Secondly, get a great pair of wiper blades. I installed Silblades on my car over a year ago and they do a great job of keeping the windshield clean, much in the same way as how Mary informed you about keeping your glasses clean. Also, keep the wiper fluid full and use it frequently. In the winter, I use a deicer fluid, but most of the time I would use the Rainex fluid found here.

Lastly, Windex. You clean both the inside and outside of your glasses right? Do the same thing for your car’s windows. A thorough cleaning of the inside windows with Windex will be the finishing touch on optimizing your roadway visibility and limiting your issues with night driving.

Keep those eyes healthy, Rx updated and make sure your glasses/windshield are appropriately set up for the task and you will find yourself much more confident and calm behind the wheel at night, even in the most trying of road conditions.

I have not had a single request for this kind of contact this year. Historically these contacts get abused, and I see a lot of eye infections as a result. Many of them can be avoided by following 2 simple rules.

1. If you are re-using a contact, make sure its clean and disinfected. This means, the night before you use it, RUB/RINSE/SOAK it. BUY some CL solution! Do not keep sticking it back into the vial it came in (I can’t believe I actually had to write that!)

2. Take them out, before you pass out. A lot of times, people are out partying and get lazy about taking care of their contacts. If you are unable to properly take care of them, instead of sleeping in them, just throw them out. Its not worth the $, time and pain that’s involved with a CL related eye problem.

AOA warns consumers about risks of decorative contact lenses.Medical News Today(10/21) reports, “With Halloween approaching, the American Optometric Association (AOA) is warning consumers about the risks of wearing decorative contact lenses without a prescription from an eye doctor.” While the Food and Drug Administration regulates “decorative lenses as a medical device, similar to corrective lenses,” some “decorative lenses continue to be illegally marketed and distributed directly to consumers through a variety of sources, including flea markets, the Internet, beauty salons, and convenience stores.” Paul Klein, O.D., chair of the AOA’s Contact Lens and Cornea Section, emphasized that “purchasing contact lenses without a prescription can result in serious eye health and vision damage since consumers are not properly educated on cleaning and disinfecting, nor in proper removal and application of the contact lens.” He explained that “consumers who wear these contact lenses put themselves at risk of serious bacterial infection, or even significant damage to the eye’s ability to function, with the potential for irreversible sight loss.” Additional “risks associated with the use of decorative contact lenses include conjunctivitis, swelling, allergic reaction, and corneal abrasion due to poor lens fit.”

“If you buy glasses from my store, I will do a free eye exam to get the prescription for you.” – a local optical

If that seems like a good idea to you, Park Slope Eye, is not the right environment for you. If you need a free eye exam, please make sure you are getting a decent eye exam, and not just the “which is better, 1 or 2 routine and the puff test”. Free Eye Care can be found here: https://justinbazan.wordpress.com/2008/02/01/free-eyecare/

The lines between where exceptional eyecare and incredible eyewear have blended, making it even harder to know where to go to find both. Many top quality eyecare environments, both optometrists and ophthalmologists are paying more attention to selling eyewear. However, it is still somewhat of a rarity for those focusing on selling eyewear to also provide top quality eyecare. A good rule of thumb, is if you hear the eye exam thrown into a deal on glasses, the establishment might not be offering you the best possible care. If selling glasses is the priority, eyecare is often sacrificed.

Your child’s ability to learn is enormously dependant on how well your child’s eyes work and how healthy their eyes are. As parents, arguable, the best way to ensure that you child is able to achieve optimal academic performance, is to have a comprehensive eye exam with an eye doc. It is in your child’s best interest to get their eyes comprehensively checked out, even if you suspect nothing is wrong. You never know for sure, unless you check.

Don’t get too excited folks. It appeas to be a “vanity scam”. Just for kicks, take a look at the press release and the award plaque (for purchase)! Justin Bazan, OD is the best optometrist in Brooklyn 🙂

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Justin Bazan, OD Receives 2008 Best of Brooklyn Award

U.S. Local Business Association’s Award Plaque Honors the Achievement

WASHINGTON D.C., September 29, 2008 — Justin Bazan, OD has been selected for the 2008 Best of Brooklyn Award in the Optometrists category by the U.S. Local Business Association (USLBA).

The USLBA “Best of Local Business” Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country. Each year, the USLBA identifies companies that they believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community.

Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2008 USLBA Award Program focused on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the USLBA and data provided by third parties.

About U.S. Local Business Association (USLBA)

U.S. Local Business Association (USLBA) is a Washington D.C. based organization funded by local businesses operating in towns, large and small, across America. The purpose of USLBA is to promote local business through public relations, marketing and advertising.

The USLBA was established to recognize the best of local businesses in their community. Our organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations, chambers of commerce and other business advertising and marketing groups. Our mission is to be an advocate for small and medium size businesses and business entrepreneurs across America.

In continuing coverage from previous editions of First Look, WLEX-TV Lexington (9/26), an NBC affiliate, reported that hours spent “peering at computer screens, televisions, hand-held devices, cell phones,” and GPS monitors may lead to “dry eyes, irritation, blurred vision, double vision, headache, and tiredness.” To help avoid “this group of symptoms,” referred to as “computer vision syndrome,” the “American Optometric Association (AOA) recommends resting your eyes for 15 minutes after working continuously for two hours on an electronic screen. In addition, every 20 minutes, look up from the screen and refocus your eyes on a distant object.” In addition, computer users should “reduce the wattage in desk lamps and adjust window blinds to cut down on screen glare.” Some people “may want to try over-the-counter eye drops known as ‘artificial tears,'” which “are available as lubricated, saline, homeopathic, and other types. Using a humidifier may also help.”
In an “Insider Medicine in 60” video segment on Insider Medicine (9/26), Susan Sharma, M.D., reported that, “according to researchers from the University of Ulster, most people blink about 15 times a minute, but staring at a computer screen can reduce that by up to two-thirds. Blinking spreads tears across the eye and removes irritants, and insufficient blinking can lead to a condition called ‘dry eye,’ which can cause infection and sight loss.”

If you have to wear a reusable contact, you may find your doctor prescribing a new contact called Avaira. For my patients in which a daily disposable is not the best option, the Avaira often is. Check out the infomercial about this exciting new product. http://www.coopervision.tv/avaira.shtml

A production crew was filming on location today. The footage will be used in a new documentary on the brain and visual processing which is scheduled to air on PBS. It is the follow up to the critically acclaimed documentary, “The Brain Fitness Program”.

CHICAGO (July 24, 2008) – When Kari Haegele realized that her 6-year-old daughter, Sophie, was having trouble seeing out of her right eye, she made an appointment with her eye doctor. The diagnosis was amblyopia, the most common cause of visual impairment in childhood. In fact, amblyopia alone is responsible for more loss of vision in people age 45 and younger than all other eye diseases and trauma combined.

Amblyopia occurs when the brain and the eye are not working together effectively. As the brain develops and receives diminished images from the affected eye, it begins to suppress those images and favor the unaffected eye. If this condition persists, the weaker eye may become useless.

According to the National Eye Institute, nationwide, two to five percent of children ages three to five have amblyopia, three to four percent have strabismus, and 10-15 percent have significant refractive error. Additionally, vision problems can negatively impact learning and school performance, as 80 percent of learning in young children is done visually. That’s why Prevent Blindness America has designated August as Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month in an effort to educate parents and caregivers on the importance of vision care for children.

Fortunately for Sophie, her mother recognized a problem early on and her doctor was able to begin effective eye patching treatment immediately. During the process, Mrs. Haegele signed her daughter up for Prevent Blindness America’s Eye Patch Club, a program geared towards children with amblyopia and their families. The Eye Patch Club program is designed to encourage children to wear their eye patches as prescribed by their doctor. Among other materials, members of the club receive their own special calendar and stickers.

The stickers are placed on the calendar for each day the child wears his or her patch. Once the calendar is complete, the child may send it into Prevent Blindness America to receive a special prize. Proceeds from the sale of the kits go to Prevent Blindness America’s sight-saving programs.

“Sophie is doing wonderfully now and currently has 20/25 vision in her right eye and we will hopefully be done with her eye patching very soon,” said Kari Haegele. “Thanks to her own diligence in wearing her patch every day, combined with her family’s support and eye doctor’s care, Sophie is well on her way to a lifetime of healthy vision.”

As children are preparing to head back to school, Prevent Blindness America urges parents to add an appointment to the eye doctor to the “to do” list.

“The good news is that amblyopia and strabismus can be effectively treated if it’s found early,” said Hugh R. Parry, president and CEO of Prevent Blindness America. “We urge all parents and caregivers to have their child’s vision checked as soon as possible to protect the precious gift of sight.”
For more information on amblyopia and other children’s vision issues, or to sign up for The Eye Patch Club, click here, or call 1-800-331-2020.

Download a pdf version of this press release.

About Prevent Blindness America

Founded in 1908, Prevent Blindness America is the nation’s leading volunteer eye health and safety organization dedicated to fighting blindness and saving sight. Focused on promoting a continuum of vision care, Prevent Blindness America touches the lives of millions of people each year through public and professional education, advocacy, certified vision screening and training, community and patient service programs and research. These services are made possible through the generous support of the American public. Together with a network of affiliates, divisions and chapters, it’s committed to eliminating preventable blindness in America. For more information, or to make a contribution to the sight-saving fund, call 1-800-331-2020.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has just combined several stalled bills into the Advancing America’s Priorities Act of 2008 (S. 3297), and he’s pledged to do everything possible to bring this legislation directly to the Senate floor for a vote as quickly as possible. At the urging of the AOA, the Vision Care for Kids Act, which was overwhelmingly approved by the U.S. House last October, was accepted for inclusion in S. 3297.
The Vision Care for Kids Act seeks to make children’s vision a health care priority at the federal level by directly recognizing the link between a child’s healthy vision and the ability to succeed in the classroom. It would establish the first-ever federal grant program – set to be authorized initially at $65 million – to bolster state children’s vision initiatives. By placing a new emphasis on treatment, the bill is aimed at doing more to ensure that no child in America is left behind due to a preventable or treatable vision problem. In addition, the Vision Care for Kids Act fully recognizes the role of optometrists as the nation’s frontline providers of eye and vision care.
The AOA Washington Office anticipates a Senate vote on S. 3297 within days. It will likely provide the final opportunity for enacting the Vision Care for Kids Act into law for this Congress.
With the vote approaching, it is essential that AOA Federal Keypersons and other concerned ODs contact their senators in support of S. 3297, the Advancing America’s Priorities Act.

TAKE ACTION
Please click on the link below to the AOA Online Legislative Action Center to generate messages supporting S. 3297 and the Vision Care for Kids Act that will be faxed directly to the Capitol Hill offices of your state’s two U.S. senators.

The support of our friends, family and the community has been amazing. We are gracious and honored to be intertwined with such special individuals. If were are to succeed it will no doubt be due to your support. Please share in the sense of accomplishment that we have, as it is as much yours as it is ours!

Kindest Regards,

Justin and Mary

Doctor Bazan and Mary McRae Optician of Park Slope Eye in Brooklyn New York provide exceptional eyecare and incredible eyewear. Please visit www.ParkSlopeEye.com to learn why they are so special.

New evidence suggests that contacts change with wear. Some of the changes occur to the surface of the contact, making them an easy place for harmfull bacteria to thrive. In my opinion, no matter what you do to clean them, there is nothing better than a fresh clean new contact.

Bacterial Adhesion to Worn Silicone Hydrogel Contact Lenses

The aim of this study was to investigate whether silicone hydrogel contact lenses (CLs) are more or less susceptible to bacterial adhesion than conventional ones, and to assess the influence of lens wear in the extent of bacterial adhesion.

Four silicone-hydrogel CLs (galyfilcon A, balafilcon A, lotrafilcon A and lotrafilcon B) and one conventional hydrogel (etafilcon A) CL were tested. Bacterial adhesion experiments were performed on unworn and worn CL using the strain Staphylococcus epidermidis 9142. Worn lenses were obtained from a group of 31 subjects fitted with a silicone-hydrogel CL in one eye and a conventional hydrogel CL as contralateral pair. These lenses were used on a daily basis in combination with a multipurpose lens care solution. Adhesion assays were carried out in a parallel plate flow chamber, followed by image analysis. Hydrophobicity, roughness and topography of the lenses surfaces were assessed through contact angle measurements and atomic force microscopy.

Unworn conventional and silicone hydrogel CLs were equally susceptible to bacterial adhesion of S. epidermidis. Conversely, worn conventional hydrogel (etafilcon A) CLs were more prone to bacterial adhesion than worn silicone hydrogel materials, which exhibited similar adhesion extents among them. Results also showed that the lens surface properties such as hydrophobicity, roughness and surface topography changed during wear. The alteration of surface hydrophobicity of silicone and conventional hydrogel CLs during wear had a great impact on lens bacterial adhesion susceptibility.

Worn silicone hydrogel galyfilcon A, balafilcon A, lotrafilcon A and lotrafilcon B are equally prone to microbial adhesion of S. epidermidis and generally less susceptible than the conventional hydrogel.

As anyone who has worn glasses (or even contact lenses) for a number of years knows quite well, eye care is a extraordinarily unique field. It’s the place where medical precision and accuracy meets the desire for style and personal expression. In this extremely sensitive area of care, optical shops continue to multiply like so many Starbucks or McDonald’s outlets, and the majority of them have come to seem more like deli counters where patients are treated like numbers rather than unique human beings in need of attentive care and medical expertise.

When Dr. Justin Bazan and Mary McRae open Park Slope Eye on Saturday, July 12 it will be a culmination of their dream to create a place where each patient finally has an opportunity to receive the eye care he or she really deserves – care and understanding that is reflected in every facet of the experience, from listening to their concerns and questions to helping them select eyewear that perfectly reflects their personality. This grew out of their shared concern that true customer service seems to have taken a backseat in the optical field these days.

The Partners’ Vision for Park Slope Eye

The partners in Park Slope Eye also see that one of the most important areas of eye care is also one that is most frequently neglected by the large chain optical retailers – children’s eye care. It is estimated that ten percent of all preschoolers in the U.S., and 25 of all children in kindergarten through sixth grade, have vision deficiencies according to the American Public Health Association. These vision problems can easily be detected by a proper eye exam by an experienced eye doctor. Dr. Bazan believes that every child deserves to find out if their eyes are healthy and that their vision is normal.

Based on her 12 years of experience in the optical field, Mary McRae has also discovered some great ways of getting young children involved in their own eye care. Making them feel part of the process is crucial when it comes to making certain that they actually wear their glasses. Mary is passionate about supporting and guiding clients through the often confusing process of selecting the perfect frame for their new glasses. She sees her work as an opportunity for artistic expression, all with the goal in mind of supporting the medical science that serves that patient.

Dr. Justin Bazan and Mary McRae both enjoy educating parents about the children’s eye care, and they can tell your viewers/listeners/readers

How to tell if young children (even infants) may need vision correction

How to tell when a “learning disorder” or behavior problem is really a problem with uncorrected vision

How to get your child involved in the process of caring for their eyes, and why participation is important

When Park Slope Eye opens on July 12, it will represent not just a much-needed alternative to Park Slope residents of Brooklyn – but also to Manhattan residents, as they are just a short subway ride away. The owners of Park Slope Eye are looking forward to demonstrating their commitment to the neighborhood — where they both live. This is reflected in their hours of operation — not just by offering morning, evening and weekend hours to accommodate their patients’ varying schedules. (In fact, every Sunday will be “Kids Only Day!” — dedicated to serving the many families in Park Slope and nearby Manhattan.) This commitment is also reflected in their desire to make Park Slope Eye a small “oasis” in Park Slope by offering healthy snacks, juice, coffee and tea to those who visit the location. They will also feature work by local artists and musicians.

What Patients & Customers Have Said

“Dr. Bazan is a terrific doctor of optometry. He is a personable, patient, caring and instinctive individual.”
– BK

“Mary McRae is simply the best! Her experience, genuine care, creativity and passion for her work makes her the one and only choice for me.”
– N

Biographical Information

Dr. Justin Bazan, OD is a board certified graduate of the prestigious SUNY State College of Optometry in New York City and is a graduate of Trinity College in San Antonio, Texas. He is a member of numerous professional associations including the American Optometric Association, the New York State Optometric Association, the Proactive Optometric Physicians, the Optometric Nutrition Society, the Tear Film & Ocular Surface Society, and Vision Source. Dr. Bazan frequently attends optometric gatherings and conferences, and is committed to continuing and ongoing education in his field. Dr. Bazan donates his services through an American Optometric Association program called infantsee, which offers free eye exams for infants 6 months to one year of age. He also donates his expertise to children in need, by offering one free exam to one child per week who is unable to find affordable eye care. Through college, Dr. Bazan was involved in a mentoring program for elementary school children and he volunteered at a local children’s shelter on a weekly basis.

Mary McRae has been recognized as an ABO-certified Optician, and is a graduate of the University of Washington. She has worked in family practice optometry, for an opthamology office and for a large national chain. Most recently, Mary ran a very successful store for a national chain – receiving “Store of the Year” recognition for two years, for more than tripling the patient base since the time she began managing the store. Mary has recently been featured in an online news articles by cnn.com and lifetime.com.

DD cls give me piece of mind: I feel they have the lowest chance of allowing anything bad happening to my eye.Harmful bacteria are thrown away each night.Eliminates risk of serious vision threatening conditions resulting from contact lens ineffective cleaning routines.The use of dirty contact lens cases and contaminated solutions are a thing of the past.

DD cls are comfortable:Irritating build up and debris are thrown away.A fresh and clean feeling every day. Essential to keeping me comfortable especially during allergy season.

DD cls are convenient:No fuss. No muss.You will find the 5 strips easy to pack and can be kept anywhere.

DD cls are affordable:A buck a day.Seriously what can you get for a dollar these days?Surely healthy and comfortable contacts are better meeting your needs than a 4 pc chicken nugget from McDonald’s.

DD cls are easy.I’m lazy.It really was a pain for me to take the time and effort to properly take care of my reusable contacts.It is so nice not having to go through the whole cleaning routine.

Can I swim in my contacts? With summer upon us, everyone is thinking about fun in the sun. Although it is ideal not to swim in contacts, I know that it is impractical not to do so. The risk of bad things happening are real. Listen to the facts and decide for yourself if the risk is worth taking. Water, even chlorinated water contains harmful bugs. If you are wearing your contacts, swim goggles would be a step in the right direction. A step in a better direction would be daily disposables, which are thrown out after a day of swimming.

A very common parasite know as Acanthamoeba has been linked to numerous contact lens related eye infections. Get a little bit of water in your eye, and you are at risk for this “little nasty” taking residence in your contact lens. Your contact lens is a great place for that bug to thrive and replicate to enourmous quantities. Not a big deal if it was content with just being on the contact. However, Acanthamoeba also recognizes that your eye is a great spot to live as well. This bug is devastating, and will burrow deep into your cornea, destroying tissue as it goes. Many people suffer blindness that is only remedied with a corneal transplant. That means you lose your own cornea and have to rely on a “donor” cornea. Sounds fun? This infection is on the rise. Read more here http://tinyurl.com/3matvl or watch the video here http://video.nbc10.com/player/?id=262700 .

What makes things worse is that this bug can make it past the disinfection process. Bad news for us. The disinfection solutions that many of us use, may not be eliminating this harmful pathogen from our contacts and our contact lens cases. Pretty scary info to hear. The good news is that you can minimize this risk by tossing out your contacts everyday. Personally, I feel the risk of an infection occurring from a contaminated daily disposable that is thrown out at the end of the day is acceptable. I wear my contacts to the beach and throw them out at the end of the day. I have yet to read or hear about an infection occurring in similar situations. Nearly everyone can wear a daily disposable, there are very few of you that could not, so it would be a great contact to use on days involving water. Even if you have to sacrifice some vision temporarily by not having the perfect prescription, it still beats sacrificing your vision permanently! Go get fit for some daily disposables and worry about a sunburn instead of a serious eye infection!

During an eye exam, patients often learn a lot more about their health than they ever would have thought. Systemic conditions are often noted during a thourough eye exam. Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, Multiple Sclerosis, and even Cancer are a few of the many conditions that can be noted during the exam.

Get ready to to add a few more systemic conditions to the list. More interestingly is the method of how they will be detected. In development, are laser devices that will safely and efficiently scan the eye. Instead of invasive testing, many people will benefit from an easy to do eye scan. It is really fascinating technology. For the whole story, please visit: http://www.wftv.com/health/16436429/detail.html

UV radiation is the harmful component of sunlight. We are most familiar with its effects when we tan, get sunburned, and develop skin Cancer. We know that blocking this UV radiation is the only way to prevent the irreversible damage that it can cause. What many of us do not realize is that our eyes are also extremely susceptible to UV radiation as well. When we are outside, UV radiation is always around and our eyes are constantly being bombarded with it. UV radiation is very damaging and protecting your eyes is crucial to prevent serious long term damage such as loss of vision. A great pair of sunglasses is the best way to keep your eyes as healthy as possible. Make sure you know your sunglasses block close to 100% of the UV radiation.

How much do you care about your eyes? How much do you care about who is taking care of them? Does it equate?

It can be very frustrating not to have your doctor’s qualities match up with you unique personality and requirements. What is one to do?

The following is a story of a patient who was conducting interviews of optometrist to find the best match. I for one would LOVE this idea to catch on…..well maybe not a true interview, but I would happily encourage people to research the doctor first. Personally, if you have any specific questions after you have done your research on me, I would happily answer them.

A colleague posted:

“Today, a woman showed up to the office without an appointment. She asked to see me. As I was between patients, I asked her how I could help. She told me that she wanted to interview me. She is looking for an optometrist to help her with her eyes.

She has tried to interview six optometrists in the area.

I was a little stunned but I thought it could be interesting. In 20 years, I have never been interviewed. So, she asked several questions, how long had I been in practice, where I went to school, did I see children, etc?

I answered every question. When she was done, I asked her if I could interview her. She asked why, and I mentioned that I wasn’t sure that I wanted to be her doctor. She looked a little surprised. But, she said ok.

I asked her: did she come in for her appointments regularly and on time, did she pay her bills on time, etc.

Finally, she looked at me and said ok I will schedule an appoint for me and my family. I started to tease and tell her I wasn’t sure she passed the interview but we might try it. I think she thought I was kidding around. I wasn’t!”

It has come to my attention that many people think astigmatism is an eye disease or some horrible eye omen. Breath easy people, Astigmatism is not an Ocular Disease like Glaucoma or Macular Degeneration. It is a Visual Condition that in most cases has very little to do with the actual state of how healthy your eyes are.

Astigmatism is just a word that basically describes how your eye focuses light. How your eye focuses light is greatly determined by the shape of your eye. So, when your eye doctor tells you that you have astigmatism, they are basically saying that your eye isn’t perfectly round like a basketball, and is more like the shape of a football, therefore when light enters your eye, it is not focused properly. In fact, an astigmatic eye, focuses the light into several different spots on the back of your eye, causing you to see things blurry.

That means to get you to see the best, the glasses or contacts have to be designed to correct these incorrectly focused spots of light.
Because astigmatic eyes have different curvatures, like the tip of a football, the glasses/contacts require more than one power. A common example of this type of Rx would be -2.00-1.00×90 D. The numbers in red are the extra correction for the extra curves of your eye. If your eye was perfectly round, the glasses/contacts would only require one power. A common example of this type of Rx would be -2.00 D.

Even though the word astigmatism sounds like you have a “stigma” or a really bad eye condition, do not worry. Astigmatism is not a horrible eye disease, in fact, you now know that it really is just a word describing how your eye focuses light!

Welcome to Insidermedicine’s If I had; where we get a chance to ask an expert what they would do if they had a particular medical condition.This week, we had the opportunity to ask Dr. Henry Jampel, a world expert in the field of eye disease what he would do if he had glaucoma. Dr. Jampel is a Professor of Ophthalmology at the Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins University, and serves as the Associate Editor-in-Chief of ‘Ophthalmology,’ the official journal of the AAO.

Dr. Jampel gave us his insight into what patients should do if they are told that they have glaucoma.

I’d like to thank Dr. Jampel for lending his insight to Insidermedicine’s If I had.

(February 29, 2008 – Insidermedicine) Welcome to Insidermedicine’s If I Had, where we get a chance to ask an expert what they would do if they had a medical condition.On a recent trip to Boston, we caught up with Dr. Joan Miller, MD, who is Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School, and Chief of Ophthalmology at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. Dr. Miller is a retina specialist, and an active researcher in ocular neovascularization in macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy.We asked Dr. Miller what she would do if she had macular degeneration. Park Slope Eye is located in Brooklyn, NY. For more info contact Justin Bazan, OD, the optometrist of Park Slope Eye, at Dr.Bazan@ParkSlopeEye.com or visit www.ParkSlopeEye.com Also, check us out on Yelp!, Twitterand FaceBook.

We all should pay a little bit more attention as to what we are putting into our bodies. You are what you eat right? Inflammation is a natural component to our body’s immune system but can often times become abnormally regulated. Many studies have shown that controlling your diet, may unlock the key to better regulation. With inflammation being a common underlying cause in dry eye, the above article is of particular interest.

For those of you who are doing lid hygiene, you will find my technique, simply, cheap, easy and effective. For many, it is the ideal way to perform lid massage and warm compress. My technique is optimal for efficiently and effectively improving the function of your meibomian glands. The idea of combining simultaneous heat and massage is what makes my technique quite different from others. I hope you give this inexpensive yet amazing technique a try.

The ideal time to perform this technique is after completing your lid cleansing routine. If your doctor is still recommending baby shampoo please ask him about alternatives such as Ocusoft Plus lid foam.

First, just fill a resealable plastic baggy with hot water (or microwaved). Make sure the temperature is safe by testing against your cheek. Then center the baggy over both eyes, holding it against the forehead with one hand, using the other to perform the standard lid massage you have learned from your eye doctor. About a minute each lid. It can easily be done and is most effective in a reclined position or while lying in bed. After you complete the routine, flush the eyes with cool water and/or install your artificial tear to help flush the loosened debris away.

Katherine M. Mastrota, M.S., O.D., the center director for Omni Eye Surgery in New York City, endorses the technique and has even added an aspect of aroma therapy by adding lavender buds into the baggy.

If your a frequent flyer, you probably are no stranger to the symptoms of Dry Eye. The environment of the cabin is less than ideal for keeping your eyes comfortable, and many of you will have eyes that experience symptoms of irritation and discomfort. A recent study proves this to be the case. Want to know the specifics? Click Here–>http://www.osnsupersite.com/view.asp?rID=26156

Want to find some relief? Talk to your Eye doctor to find out what can be done. Most of the time, simply lubricating and moisturizing the eye with an artificial tear (not a get the red out drop), will do the job. A few of my favorites are Freshkote, Soothe XP, and Optive.

Ok, its free, but its not from me! Take your chances?!? Seriously, if you are at a point where you can qualify for this, take advantage of it.

I shouldn’t have to remind people how important your eyes are, but for a variety of reasons (excuses?), people neglect eyecare. Do you know what it feels like to hear that you have lost vision permanently because you didn’t get your eyes checked sooner? I hope you never do! Keep in mind that there are so many “hidden” eye problems that you won’t know about until its too late. Only an eye doc can tell you with any certainty that both your vision and ocular health are perfect.

I’m looking at your globe, Got the redness all around
and I’m hearin what you say but im taking the history now
You tell me that its itchy
and its redness all around, today
you tell me that there’s discharge
and this is what I found, it is…
A red eye and a sty , a red eye
I said A red eye and a sty, a red eye

I’d take another look, see chemosis
and follicles
I need a culture to send to the lab, cuz its looking bad yeahhh
you need some antibiotics
and maybe steroids, and you say…
“Sorry” cant afford it do u have some free samples
no I’m afraid…

Im sorry you have to buy, im sorry
I said Im sorry you have to buy, im sorry
whoaaa

Bridge (guitar/piano)

Stay out your contact lens, don’t wear it
I said go buy the vigamox, and use it
I said use the polytrim, yeah
its for the good of your own eye, because
I’m looking at your globe, Got the redness all around

Thanks to all of my regular readers. A few of you have asked me why am I the only eye doctor who has a blog. Well I am delighted to find out that I am not the only one. I welcome the company of the following two esteemed Optometrists.

Dr. Bonilla-Warford an optometrist practicing in Tampa, Florida has been providing the internet with a plethora of important eyecare info through his Bright Eyes Blog.

John Warren, OD of Racine, Wisconsin is into eyecare and into technology. He does a great job dispersing eyecare info throughout the internet. Check out his blog and Warren Eye Care Podcasts.

Most people blink a few times every few seconds. Unfortunately, when we stare at a computer, that blink rate drops to a few times a minute. That simply is not enough to keep our eyes feeling comfortable. Click the link below to get a blink reminder gif that helps keep your blink rate normal and your eyes feeling great.

What Contact Lens Solution Should I use?

A few years ago, choosing a contact lens solutions was pretty much a non issue. Contacts were basically composed of plastic and water and the CL solutions were similarly formulated regardless of manufacturer. Most people would get the cheapest product on the shelf and do ok with it.

This is not true today. Certain contact lenses need to be used with certain solutions. Not all solutions are compatible with every type of contact. Using a contact lens with a non compatible solution can damage your eye, and unfortunately this damage may occur with out you feeling or seeing anything until a serious issue develops. Your eye doctor should prescribed the best CL solution for your particular contacts.

Generics solutions pose a problem for several issues. One is that its hard to know what exactly is in the bottle. Without knowing what really is in that bottle leaves it impossible to determine if it is the best to use with you particular type of contact. Furthermore, generic brands are know to use older, less beneficial formulations, and to switch the ingredients of the solutions frequently. Using a generic, makes it almost impossible to guarantee that your are utilizing the best solution for your particular contacts.

The buck you save on a generic is far outweighed by the piece of mind of allowing yourself to get the best contact lens solution your doctor prescribed specifically for you. Your eye doctor cares enough about you to make sure your eyes stay as healthy as possible. Stick to what he prescribes. If he forgot to prescribe a solution, call him and ask him. It really does matter!

Holiday gatherings gave me the opportunity to survey friends and family about their eyes. Because many of them do not get a chance to come to my practice, many of them are under the care of other eye care providers. I really get a great opportunity to ask them about their eyecare. They always provide some great insights on the publics sentiments about their eyes. Here is a common dialogue.

After determining its been a decade sine his last comprehensive eye exam, I reply “Uncle, it’s been a while since you’ve had an eye exam. Don’t you think its important to check to see if you eyes are healthy?” He replies, “I see fine. I don’t need an exam!” Qualifying it further with “I got some reading glasses from the drugstore, for when I really need to see something small.” And finishing it up with, “But when I have a problem, I promise I will get an exam.”

My uncle, like many people, feel that they are seeing fine. And like my uncle, many people do not really know for sure if how they are seeing is really the best they could be seeing because they have not been tested. Many times vision loss is gradual and hard to notice! During a comprehensive exam, your vision will be assessed and optimized, giving you the best possible vision you deserve.

More importantly even if you are seeing fine, it doesn’t guarantee that your ocular health is fine, or will remain fine in the future. My uncle, like many people, associates seeing ok with healthy eyes. Unfortunately many times this proves untrue as hidden eye problems can only be discovered during a comprehensive eye exam. Don’t you deserve to find out if you eyes are healthy? Only a comprehensive eye exam will give you that piece of mind. Both your vision and your ocular health will be thoroughly assessed and addressed.

No one will argue that losing vision is a good thing, yet people often take vision and ocular health for granted. No one can argue that vision and ocular health change over time. No one can argue that there are ways to prevent or slow vision loss. Find out how during your comprehensive eye exam!

Whether it’s seeing clearly to navigate the road or seeing comfortable to complete a day’s worth of work, our eyes play an enormous role in our daily activities. Thinking that everything is ok, just because you see well, or even perfect, can be very dangerous. Many times a loss of vision is sudden and without warning, yet it may have been preventable if the problem was identified with a comprehensive eye exam. Other times, your eyes become unhealthy and your vision unclear at such a slow and gradual change, you may not even notice it until it is too late.

Why not let an expert ensure that your eyes are both healthy and seeing things as clear and as comfortable as possible. Many vision problems and eye diseases do not initially affect how well you see and can only be detected with a comprehensive eye examination. To maintain clear and comfortable vision, and healthy eyes, make sure to schedule a comprehensive eye exam with an eye care provider.

Now that the cookies have been eaten and the champagne has been toasted, many of us now turn our attention on how to improve our health. Some people will make resolutions to lose weight, others will think about exercising more and, others will try to make time for pleasure reading.

Because your eyes and vision are vital to most, if not all, of the resolutions that people make, I have compiled a list of New Year’s Resolutions for Your Eyes and Vision:

The Top Ten 2008 Eye and Vision New Year’s Resolutions:

1. Make sure that you have your eyes examined with dilation of the pupils as recommended by your doctor.

Vision changes can be gradual and you many not realize you are having a problem. Many conditions, such as glaucoma, start with no symptoms. Also, diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure are frequently first detected with a dilated eye exam.

2. If you have children, make sure you have their eyes examined.

The recommended age for the first eye exam is 6 months. Children who are in school should have their eyes examined every year (and school and pediatrician vision screenings do not count).

3. If you should be wearing glasses for driving and you’re not, just do it.

This is especially true at night, when vision is more difficult and bright lights make it harder to see.

4. If you smoke, quit.

It has been clearly established that smoking can increase the risk of development of conditions such as cataracts and macular degeneration. Seek professional help to quit if needed.

5. Make sure your eyes have adequate UV protection.

Your regular glasses, sunglasses ,and contacts can all have UV protection. Limiting UV exposure reduces the risk of skin cancer of the eyelids, cataracts, and other conditions.

6. Wear your contact lenses no longer than recommended.If you are sleeping in your contacts and your eye doctor did not explicitly fit you in contacts for this purpose, stop.

If you abuse contact lenses, you put yourself at risk of eye infections that are not only painful but also have the potential to result in permanent vision loss.

7. Never “top off” contact lens solutions. Use only the solutions recommended for you.

Never save solution for the next day and add a little more to fill the case. Start each night with fresh solution. The majority of contact serious lens-related infections comes from not taking care of them as recommended. Contacts are medical devices that only work well if they are cleaned regularly and appropriately.

8. Change your contact lens case monthly.

Contact lens cases can contain micro-organisms that are very difficult to remove. The best remedy is to start fresh with a new case. If you need a new one, stop by our office for a free one.

9. When you work at the computer, read, or play handheld games, take visual breaks to limit eyestrain.

Remember the “20/20/20 Rule”: Look up from your work every 20 minutes to an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This is can keep you more comfortable and efficient. If you spend a significant amount of time on the computer, glasses specifically designed for the computer can reduce or eliminate eyestrain as well improve comfort of the neck.

10. Ask your eye doctor if nutritional supplements are a good idea for you and your eyes

There have been scientific studies that have shown that certain supplements can be appropriate for certain eye conditions, such as macular degeneration. They might be right for you, but they should only be of high quality and should be recommended by a doctor who knows about your overall health and the medications that you take.
After reading this list of New Years Resolutions, pass it onto a friend or family member you care about. If you need help with any of these, feel free to call 813-792-0637 or stop by the office.

InfantSEE® is a public health program designed to ensure that eye and vision care becomes an integral part of infant wellness care to improve a child’s quality of life. Under this program, American Optometric Association (AOA) member optometrists will provide a comprehensive infant eye assessment within the first year of life as a no cost public health service.

The Partnership for Prescription Assistance brings together America’s pharmaceutical companies, doctors, other health care providers, patient advocacy organizations and community groups to help qualifying patients who lack prescription coverage get the medicines they need through the public or private program that’s right for them. Many will get them free or nearly free. Its mission is to increase awareness of patient assistance programs and boost enrollment of those who are eligible. Through this site, the Partnership for Prescription Assistance offers a single point of access to more than 475 public and private patient assistance programs, including more than 180 programs offered by pharmaceutical companies. To access the Partnership for Prescription Assistance by phone, you can call toll-free, 1-888-4PPA-NOW (1-888-477-2669). www.pparx.org

Do you believe you are healthy? In many cases, most of us think that we are doing ok with our health. I used to always be the one that said I had perfect health and I still do say this, especially when it comes to my vision. My family can all quote me in saying “I thank God for perfect vision”. Well, you know what? My perfect vision was not so perfect after all. I visited the eye doctor a few days ago and to my surprise, my eyes were not the laser beams that I thought they were. In fact, I was cautioned that I am a glaucoma suspect.

I was shocked! I evaluated the situation and realized that I had not been to an eye doctor in over 5 years, that I can remember. I am writing this article to anyone that may read it to encourage you to get your eyes checked at least yearly. Thank God, I did not continue to wait on that checkup, thinking that I had this perfect vision. Could you imagine losing your sight due to laziness and not getting my vision checked.

Many reading this article have not had an eye exam in years. This article was written for you. Would you rather lose your vision or your hearing? None of the above, of course should be the answer. What do you have to lose in not having your vision checked? If you do not care about losing your eye sight, then I am not talking to you. I am looking to reach those out there who are afraid of doctors, dentists, opticians and anyone who has the title dr. If that is you, then let us reason together and make a wise decision to have your eye examination as soon as possible.

I consider myself a healthy person, but still due to neglect I could have lost my vision if the examination was not completed. Make time for your health. Make the time for your own good. You will not regret getting an annual physical either. God gave us a body to manage and be a good steward over. Do not take your vision for granted. Do you enjoy seeing the greenery in Spring? Do you enjoy the beautiful colors that God made? Of course you do and so do I. You only have two eyes-make good use of them and get them checked regularly. I pray that you make wise choices with your body. Go on and make that appointment today for you and your family.

To your health and mine. I wish you all the best as you pursue better health.

We all want fresh and clean contacts so our eyes stay comfortable and healthy right? Well, the no rub solutions where you are only rinsing off the contacts are not good at getting them clean. If you take a shower and don’t do any scrubbing do you get clean? Not really right? Well contacts need to be scrubbed clean as well. Simply rinsing them off does close to nothing, the cleaning comes from the scrubbing! What is worse, is many of you report, that all you do is just put them directly into the solution without a rinse or rub!

Scrubbing a contact clean is the only way to make the surface smooth. Having a nice smooth surface is important for your tears to keep the contact lens coated. If the tears hit a bump of buildup on the lens, and they break up and can’t coat the surface, the contact dries out and feels uncomfortable. Not to mention all that buildup irritates your eyelids and makes its impossible for your eye to breath. A contact must be fresh and clean to keep things healthy and comfortable, and scrubbing the lens is the only way to achieve this. I’m not saying scrub for hours, just a 5 second scrub on each side is all you really need, I know you can handle the extra 20 seconds.

The scrubbing is what is cleaning the lens, and after you scrubbed it, it has all that loose debris on the surface still. You have to rinse that loose debris off with a steady stream of solution, or it will end up just settling back onto the surface of the contact.

After the rub and the rinse, the clean contact needs to be disinfected to kill the germs. The overnight soak in fresh solution does that. It also rehydrates and moisturizes the lens making it much more comfortable. After soaking its also important to rinse each side of the lens off to get rid of any residual surface debris that could cause that contact to irritate your eyes.

So the best way to keep your eyes comfortable and healthy is to keep the contacts fresh and clean. A rub, rinse, soak, rinse routine will do just that. Trust me, it will make a huge difference. Or better yet, let’s forget about this whole process and just move into a daily disposable. In your eye, then in your trash! Simple, healthy, convenient! If you are interested and have a valid CL RX from me, I will really re-fit you at no charge….I really feel that strongly about it! To learn more about daily disposable contacts follow this link.

Survey Shows Few Americans Taking Care of Their EyesightAccording to the American Optometric Association’s 2007 American Eye-Q survey, almost half of respondents indicated eyesight as the sense they most worry about losing, yet admitted to knowingly engaging in behaviors that could be harmful to their eyes and vision, including poor contact-lens hygiene and avoiding eye exams.
The survey also showed that Americans have misconceptions about eye-related health. According to the survey results, habits that can be most harmful to eyes are not widely understood. Sixty-nine percent of respondents correctly cited smoking cigarettes and 61 percent correctly noted that eye-rubbing can be harmful. But only 54 percent cited drinking alcohol, and 27 percent cited drinking caffeine — both considered potentially detrimental to eye health by the AOA.
Contact lens safety and hygiene proved another area of concern. Among survey respondents who wear contact lenses, 79 percent admitted to practicing poor contact lens hygiene on a regular basis, including showering, swimming and sleeping in contacts not approved for overnight wear, as well as wearing contacts longer than the suggested timeframe. Only 32 percent said they change their contact lens case every one to three months as recommended by the AOA; and 17 percent admitted they never change their lens case at all.
Even though Americans need to see an eye specialist to get prescriptions for new lenses or glasses, thirty-two percent of Americans who wear contact lenses or glasses said they have not visited an eye doctor within the past year. Survey respondents who don’t use any corrective lenses also do not visit an eye doctor or eye specialist as often as they should; 35 percent admitted they have not visited an eye specialist for five years or longer. Another 11 percent of non-users said they get an eye exam only every three or four years. And 22 percent of non-users said they have never had their eyes checked by an eye doctor or eye care specialist.

Ok, so not that many of you receive regularly scheduled eyecare. WHY? How often do you think you should come for a checkup? What do you think some of the reasons for a check up are? Here is what you can accomplish at your yearly visit. You can make sure that those headaches your are getting are from your kids and not from the ten hours of staring at a computer. You can find out how to make your eyes look whiter and feel less tired. You can make sure the next time your driving at night, you don’t panic because you can’t read the street signs or become blinded by glare. You can get a free sample of the latest and greatest contacts that will keep your eyes healthier, more comfortable and seeing clearer. You can change your style up with a new pair of glasses. You can finally find some relief from dry and or itchy eyes. You can get piece of mind that your eyes are healthy and that there are no potential problems….early detection is the key right?!?!

10 little expenses that add up fast

Do you wonder where your money goes, especially if you’re not a big spender? It’s surprisingly easy to blow thousands, a few dollars at a time.

By Bankrate.com

It’s easy to fritter away money on little daily expenses. If you fall into these money traps, learn to avoid them and pocket the savings.

Coffee: According to the National Coffee Association, the average price for a cup of brewed coffee is $1.38. There are roughly 260 weekdays per year, so buying one coffee every weekday morning costs almost $360 per year.

Cigarettes: The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids reports that the average price for a pack of cigarettes in the United States is $4.54. Pack-a-day smokers fork out $1,650 a year. Weekend smoker? Buying a pack once a week adds up, too: $236.

Alcohol: Drink prices vary based on the location. But assuming an average of $5 per beer including tip, buying two beers per day adds up to $3,650 per year. Figure twice that for two mixed drinks a day at the local bar. That’s not chump change.

Bottled water from convenience stores: A 20-ounce bottle of Aquafina bottled water costs about $1. One bottle of water per day costs $365 per year. It costs the environment plenty, too.

Manicures: The Day Spa Magazine Price Survey of 2004 found that the average cost of a manicure is $20.53. A weekly manicure sets you back about $1,068 per year.

Car washes: The average cost for a basic auto detailing package is $58, according to Costhelper.com. The tab for getting your car detailed every two months: $348 per year.

Weekday lunches out: $9 will generally cover a decent lunch most workdays. If you buy, rather than pack, a lunch five days a week for one year, you shell out about $2,340 a year.

Vending-machines snacks: The average vending machine snack costs $1. Buy a pack of cookies every afternoon at work and pay $260 per year.

Interest charges on credit card bills: According to a survey released at the end of May, the median amount of credit card debt carried by Americans is $6,600. The average interest rate on a standard card is about 13%. Making the minimum payment each month, it will take 250 months (almost 21 years) to pay off the debt and cost $4,868 in interest. Ouch!

Unused gym memberships: Costhelper.com reports that the monthly service fee at gyms averages between $35 and $40. At $40 per month, an unused gym membership runs $480 per year.Published Oct. 11, 2007

Here are a few more to consider.

Cell Phone – Average plan of $75 per month, is $900 a year. Upgraded plans in excess of $100 per month will cost you over $1,200 a year!

TV – an average cable bill for most people is around $125 per month, or a whopping $1,500 a year. Add in some options like HD and a few premium channels, your bill can top $2,000 a year!

Daily Disposable Contacts – average supply is $25 per month, or a whopping $300 a year! Oh wait a minute, its only a bout a buck a day to keep my eyes, healthy and comfortable? Hmm, that seems like money well spent considering all of the other things I blow my money on!

Do you feel the need to use a eye drop to help get your eyes to look and feel normal? Are you using that drop several times a day? If the drop is anything other than a lubricating or moisturizing drop, you may be doing more harrm than good. Get the red out drops such as Visine, Clear Eyes, Opcon, Naphcon, etc., all contain liquid “Crack” for you eyes.They make your eyes look and feel tremendously great, but after the drug wears off, your eyes often times feel and look even worse, making you crave for another drop of the drug.There is help, we can deal with this dependency.Fist step is admitting you’re an addict.Next is quitting cold turkey.Then we will handle the withdrawal.Finally, we will provide the support your eyes need so they won’t ever have the need to become addicted to an over the counter (OTC) get the red out drop again!

If your addicted to an OTC get the red out drop, it is due to the fact that they contain a very potent drug called a vasoconstrictor.Check the ingredients in the bottle to find if it contains something that ends in an *zoline, such as terahydrozoline or naphazoline.They are thee best in shrinking up red blood vessels, making your eye look fantastic…unfortunately that is extremely unsafe if done chronically and/or frequently.

OTC get the red out drops are unsafe for a couple of reasons.The two main reasons are rebound hyperemia (redness) and decreased ocular blood flow.Decreased ocular blood flow is extremely unsafe because it prevents the flow of important nutrients, vital oxygen, and protective defense agents from reaching the appropriate structures in your eye.Blood vessels are the pipelines for the transportation of these things.If you shrink up the blood vessels, you are in essence eliminating those vital pipelines, endangering your eye.Even the package inset warns against frequent and prolonged use.Many state that 72 hours to a maximum of 10 days is all that is allowed. The second reason is rebound hyperemia (redness). Rebound hyperemia is the effect that occurs when the drug wears off.The drug is actively shrinking the blood vessels.Eventually the drug will wear off when it does, the oxygen deprived structures send a signal for more, which means more blood flow is required, thus incurring a response for the blood vessels to engorge and dilate to an even larger and redder appearance than before.So most people use the drop again to get the red out again.Thus starting a vicious cycle addiction of misuse and harmful abuse. Prolonged use may even weaken the walls of the blood vessels which means that they may unnaturally become larger, redder and more dilated even when you are not actively using the drug. Really nothing good comes from chronic use of these drugs, so stop now.

There is hope.Get off chronic abuse of the drug.Quit cold turkey now.Depending on how long you have been a user, the time for recovery may vary.The inherent issue no longer can be masked by just treating the symptom (redness).A definitive reason for the redness must be defined and treated. There are many causes of a red eye. It is a condition that requires you to seek the care of an eye care provider. In many cases, Dry Eye Syndrome (DES) is the heart of the issue.Dr. Bazan will be able to diagnose the underlying cause and begin you on a recovery treatment regime.For most mild abusers, going cold turkey will result in some severe redness for up to a few weeks.Artificial Tears (AT) are most frequently used to aid the recovery for mild cases.Artificial tears, such as Systane, act as a moisturizer for the eye.Just like when you have dry, irritated red skin and you use some moisturizing cream to treat it, AT’s are used to treat dry eye syndrome and the associated redness. They also add a layer of extra protection from any environmental factors that can cause redness. In addition, that layer of lubrication provides a cushion for your lids to blink over. For severe and long term users, the recovery will vary in weeks to months and may have to be supported by medical therapy, usually consisting of a mild ocular steroid and a tear production enhancing agent. Do not assume anything, let an eye care provider, asses, diagnose, and treat with the expertise, knowledge and care you deserve.

New Law Requiring Eye Exams For Illinois Children

11 Oct 2007

With the support of the Illinois Federation of Teachers and the Illinois Optometric Association, the General Assembly passed SB 641 into law today, requiring comprehensive eye examinations for children entering kindergarten or enrolling for the first time in public, private, or parochial elementary schools in Illinois. Acting on behalf of students, parents and teachers, the General Assembly overrode Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s amendatory veto, making sure that important improvements in children’s eye health care are enacted.

The amendatory veto would have allowed various health professionals who are not specifically trained in the eye and who may not have the appropriate equipment to perform eye exams. The General Assembly rejected that approach, insisting that only qualified eye doctors – such as optometrists and ophthalmologists – can conduct exams.

“Clear and comfortable vision is essential for learning, and this new law will help Illinois children succeed and reach their full potential,” Ed Geppert, Jr., president of the IFT, said. “This measure will help children read and see chalkboards more clearly. All Illinois children deserve the tools they need to fulfill their potential, and our students will benefit from this law.”

The new law takes effect January 1, 2008, requiring eye exams within one year prior to kindergarteners starting school in the fall, and for all students who are entering a school in Illinois for the first time. Proof of the required eye examination must be submitted by Oct. 15 of each school year. Additional vision examinations at various grade levels may be required when deemed necessary by school authorities.

“Comprehensive eye exams are the best way to diagnose eye and vision problems in children early, before they interfere with a child’s ability to learn,” said Charlotte Neilsen, O.D., president of the Illinois Optometric Association and a Grayslake optometrist. “The IOA is proud to support true leaders like Sen. Deanna Demuzio (D-Carlinville) and Rep. Jil Tracy (R-Quincy) and the Illinois Federation of Teachers in the effort to make children’s vision and classroom learning a top priority. Thanks to the General Assembly’s leadership, Illinois now leads the nation with the best eye health care requirements for children.”

Illinois joins Kentucky and Missouri as the third state in the nation requiring eye exams for children entering public schools. Since the Kentucky law requiring eye exams was enacted seven years ago, 13 percent of Kentucky children have been identified as needing corrective lenses, 3.4 percent diagnosed with amblyopia, and 2.3 percent diagnosed with strabismus.

“Vision disorders are considered the fourth most common disability in the United States, though many vision problems in children are preventable or treatable if caught early on,” said Peter H. Kehoe, O.D., F.A.A.O., president-elect of the AOA and a Galesburg optometrist. “With nearly 25 percent of school-age children suffering from vision problems, this law is necessary to help detect problems and treat and prevent diseases that can cause vision loss.”

Ten million children suffer from vision disorders, according to the National Parent Teacher Association. Nationally, about 86 percent of children entering first grade do not receive an eye exam. Comprehensive eye exams for children entering school are critical for the early intervention needed to treat diseases and disorders such as amblyopia (“lazy eye”), strabismus, retinoblastoma and other serious and potentially blinding problems that can lead to poor school performance that can ultimately affect quality of life.

A professional, comprehensive eye examination by an optometrist or ophthalmologist is essential for the diagnosis and timely treatment of eye and vision problems prior to entry into school. Many vision screenings test only for visual acuity (clarity of sight).

Comprehensive eye examinations are a cost-effective investment in Illinois’s children. Approximately 70 percent of children are insured for comprehensive eye exams through private insurance, Medicaid, S-CHIP or other state or federal programs. Optometrists, ophthalmologists and local charitable organizations have provided ongoing assistance for families in need.

Doctors encourage parents to take their children at any time within the next year for a comprehensive eye exam to ensure they meet the necessary requirements in time for the beginning of the next school year.

The American Optometric Association represents more than 34,000 doctors of optometry, optometry students and paraoptometric assistants and technicians. Optometrists provide more than two-thirds of all primary eye care in the United States and serve patients in nearly 6,500 communities across the country. In 3,500 of those communities they are the only eye doctors.

American Optometric Association doctors of optometry are highly qualified, trained doctors on the frontline of eye and vision care who examine, diagnose, treat and manage diseases and disorders of the eye. In addition to providing eye and vision care, optometrists play a major role in a patient’s overall health and well-being by detecting systemic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension.

Prior to optometry school, optometrists undergo three to four years of undergraduate study that typically culminates in a bachelor’s degree with extensive, required coursework in areas such as advanced health, science and mathematics. Optometry school consists of four years of post-graduate, doctoral study concentrating on both the eye and systemic health. In addition to their formal training, doctors of optometry must undergo annual continuing education to stay current on the latest standards of care. For more information, visit http://www.aoa.org.

Halloween is just around the corner and many of you are out shopping for the perfect costume. Many of you are also considering going all out, with extreme hair and make up, intricate outfits, and even special effect contact lenses. Non-Prescription Halloween Contacts are still considered medical devices and should be treated as such. Take care of your precious eyes and use the proper channels for obtaing your special effect contacts. Your eye care provider would be happy to assist you in creating your perfect Halloween costume by fitting you with the perfect special effect contact lenses. Those of you who may already have special effects contacts have been OK’d by your eye care provider right? Please make sure they are the appropriate for your own unique eyes! Having a poorly fit contact can cause not only discomfort but could lead to potentially serious vision threatening condition.

Ok, moving on. If you are going to utilize an approved pair of special effects contacts please keep the following in mind. If the contacts are fresh and brand new right out of the pack/vial great. If they have been sitting around for more than a few days (like last Halloween!) it is imperative that they be inspected, cleaned and disinfected the night before you plan to wear them. Remember the old contact lens adage for wearing contacts; while wearing contacts, your eyes should always Look Good, Feel Good and See Good! If one of those requirements is off, discontinue wear and if necessary seek out an eye care provider. You want your eyes to look scary from the contact, not because of it.

“Pink Eye”, especially in children, is what your eye care provider might call a bacterial conjunctivitis. Since bacteria is eliminated by antibiotics, treatment most often consists of using an antibiotic drop four times a day for a week! The more often and the longer a person has to remember to use the drop, the more often they forget to do it. There is a new drop that should help out dramatically. AzaSite is a “pink eye” resolving treatment that only requires 9 (instead of 28!) drops. Its simple, easy and effective. One drop twice a day for the first two days, then only a drop a day for the next five. Parents should be very happy with that kind of convenience.

Let me know if you would like me to implement this as my main treatment for “pink eye”.

Your insurance provider may be an entity who your doctor is refusing to partner with. If so, the insurance company might be doing a poor job of allowing the patients (the insurance company’s CUSTOMERS) to get the care that they deserve. As an eye doctor, I care way too much about you and your eyes for my level of care to be compromised by an organization that may not have your best interests at heart. However, in order for you to get the care you deserve, I will try to maximize your out of network reimbursement by giving you an itemized list of services provided and fill out any claim forms you may need. Don’t worry, I have helped many people in your situation get not only exceptional eye care but also successfully collect reimbursement. It would be my pleasure to help you out.

Insurances plans are also rejected from the business standpoint of the practice. A plan may reimburse the doctor so little for his services, it can affect the way he practices. Have you ever see a jam packed office where the doctor is just way to busy? Often times being busy is not a badge of success, it is an indicator that he may not be selective of which insurance plans he accepts. It may also mean that you don’t get the highest level of exceptional care you deserve!

You were having a great day until someone looked at you and said “Oh my god! Your eye is bleeding!” You head to the mirror and you are taken back at what you see. Your eye wasn’t bothering you but you are stunned to see the normally white part of you eye is bright red. You can’t recall anything happening to your eye, it doesn’t hurt and your vision seems to be fine as well. The good news is that this is typically something that looks way worse than what it really is. This frightfully appearing condition is most likely to be diagnosed as a subconjunctival hemorrhage, a broken blood vessel.

When a tiny blood vessel breaks just underneath the clear cellophane like layer of your eye (conjunctiva), the trapped blood spreads out quickly, leaving you with a grossly red eye. This is the equivalent of a broken blood vessel under your skin (a bruise) and similarly will take anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks to totally resolve. It may also change colors, just like a bruise, as the blood is being absorbed back into the body. Although this is mostly a very benign and self-limiting condition, it is best to let an expert make sure. It is extremely important to identify the cause, and monitor for resolution and recurrence.

Subconjunctival hemorrhage often occurs without any injury to the eye. Some common causes include, strenuous exercising, coughing, sneezing, eye rubbing, extreme g-forces, vomiting, straining, and even excessive alcohol intoxication. A more severe cause is high blood pressure. Blood thinning agents such as aspirin, ginger, capsaicin, ginseng, garlic, aspirin, or Herba can make you more prone and also inhibit absorption.

No specific treatment is needed for a subconjunctival hemorrhage, however I will often prescribe some lubricating/moisturizing eye drops and hot/cold compress to help alleviate any general discomfort and to help the absorption of the blood.
If you have recurrent subconjunctival hemorrhages or other bleeding, talk to your doctor. Be sure to tell your doctor about any medications or supplements you take. A full blood work up may be necessary.

I am a proactive doctor. I would rather prevent problems than treat them, just as I hope you would as well. Your current contact lens regime may be good so far, however we will determine if it truly is the best for your long term ocular health. In most cases daily disposable contacts are the ultimate in providing you with the highest chance of maintaining healthy and comfortable eyes. If a daily disposable lens is an option for you, you will be well educated about them and given a free trial of them. I am a firm believer that daily disposable contacts are the most successful way to preserve your ocular health. Here is what makes sense to me.

Contacts by design are porous. They are designed to act like a sponge, allowing them to hold water so they stay comfortable. This design also helps vital elements of our tears, such as oxygen, to pass through. Unfortunately, this design also makes them the perfect place for harmful bacteria to grow and for irritating debris to deposit.

No matter how well you may think you get them clean, there is no substitute for a new contact. There is nothing in this world that will be as good as new after it has been used. Why do people think contacts are the exception? If you were only allowed to take a bath and not allowed to use a washcloth (or perform an equivalent scrub), how clean would you be at the end of a few weeks? Contacts are no exception. There will always be some potentially irritating deposits and harmful bacteria left in and on the lens, no matter how thorough your cleaning routine is. What even makes things worse is that many of you barely, if at all, thoroughly rub and rinse the lens before storing it in solution (hopefully not reused solution either). Factor in a dirty old unsanitary case and you have a great formula for unhealthy, if not uncomfortable eyes.

It’s easy to give your eyes the best chance of remaining healthy and comfortable, switch to a daily disposable. Please don’t be that patient who refuses to change, still uses a standard plastic lens that they wear and keep till it starts to bother them, sleeps in on occasion if not frequently, and just kind of put them into a dirty case in some generic solution overnight. That is the formula for a disaster. These are you eyes, you have only two. Please take some time to think about that next time you’re paying your $100 a month cable bill, buying a $200 handbag or feeding your $4 dollar a day Starbucks habit. The cost of wearing a basic daily disposable; about a buck a day. The cost of preserving your eyes; Priceless. Gain some perspective, you will be rewarded. I would like you to think of your contacts as disposable, not your eyes. Both myself and your eyes thank you in advance.

So you really feel those old out dated contacts are good enough? Yearly contacts are so great right? Really love those Acuvue 2? Why not? You have been in them for years, maybe even decades, with no problems, the comfort is decent and for sure the price is right. Your eyes are fine and you don’t want to try a new, probably more expensive, kind of lens. Not too concerned about those contacts causing eye problems? I can assure you that the most problematic contacts are the standard plastic contacts that are worn for a period of weeks to months. That is just basic logic. The longer you keep a lens, the higher the probability of it to cause a problem. I’d rather prevent problems then treat them. And trust me, you’d rather have them prevented than treated. Your family doctor wouldn’t prescribe the same blood pressure medicine year after year if he knew there was a newer, safer, more effective drug for you. I also subscribe to that basic Hippocratic philosophy. Don’t forget I am caring enough to give you a great education on how to use contacts in a safe, healthy and comfortable way. Did I also mention that there is no fee involved to try it? Yes I provide you with a FREE trial of the new contacts!

I can assure you that if you are in my chair, the priority I have for you is a contact that gives you the best chance of keeping your eyes healthy, comfortable and your vision clear. I can assure you its not an standard plastic lens that you wear and keep till it starts to bother you, sleep in on occasion if not frequently, and just kind of put it into a dirty case in some generic solution overnight.We are talking less than a buck a day difference in cost! Why not choose health, comfort, convenience, and clarity over cost? I want you to feel compelled to allow yourself to select the best, not cheapest lens for you. More information about daily disposable contacts can be found here. Some compromises will be necessary, I view each patient as a unique case. You can rest assured that my interests, lie with your best interests.

Step 1. Make sure the lenses are free of debris. If the lenses have more than fingerprints on them, rinse them under water to remove the debris that could potentially scratch your lenses while you clean them.

Step 2. Spray with an approved Lens Cleaner. Stop by for a free cleaner anytime!

Step 3. Wipe the lenses with an approved and clean non-abrasive microfiber cleaning cloth. If the cloth is dirty, put it in the washing machine. A dirty cloth will scratch your lenses. Stop by for a free cleaning cloth anytime!

TIPS

Keep glasses in a case when not in use. Be sure that they are kept in a safe place, away from clumsy hands that might knock them to the ground.

WARNINGS

Avoid using your shirt or your tie to clean your lenses. Most clothing fabrics contain abrasive fibers that will scratch or smear the lenses.

Extended Wear is defined as overnight use. Typical extended wear ranges from a few nights a week to up to 30 days of continuous wear. No one can argue that the longer you keep a contact on your eye, the greater the chance for problems to occur. Sleeping in your contacts puts you in the HIGHEST RISK group amongst contact lens wearers. Sleeping in contacts is gambling with your eyes. Two minor problems that frequently occur are red, irritated eyes and blurry vision. Two major problems with serious complications are corneal inflammatory events and ulcerative keratitis (see picture below). The articles found at the end of this post may be used to help prove the reality of the situation.

But first, here is what makes sense to me.

Contacts by design are porous. They are designed to act like a sponge, allowing them to hold water so they stay comfortable. This design also helps vital elements of our tears, such as oxygen, to pass through. Unfortunately, this design also makes them the perfect place for harmful bacteria to grow and for irritating debris to deposit. Fortunately our eye is designed to withstand these assaults.

Our eyes have many protective features, but one critical feature is our ability to blink. However this blink is only effective while ours eyes are open. A blink will gather then remove potentially irritating and/or harmful debris from the corneas surface. Think of the blink as how a window washer’s squeegee removes dirt from a window. When we are sleeping, we do not blink. Our eye losses one of its defensive mechanisms and thusly is left in a slightly compromised state. Now picture that dirty, never been cleaned, up to 30 day old contact just sitting on an eye incapable of removing the debris and bacteria from its surface. Its a veritable cesspool. You have the perfect situation for something bad to occur. Overnight wears means a compromised eye subjected to prolonged exposure to debris and bacteria. Now multiply that risk factor by frequency and duration. Are you willing to keep putting your eyes at risk night after night, year after year? Do you really still feel like gambling with the only two eyes you will ever be given? Do you still feel like extended wear conditions will keep your eyes the healthiest? Try a more convenient lens, something that you can take out of you eye and just throw on the floor no matter how tired you are. I would love to save you from a trip to the bathroom to “take out your contacts”(what are the chances you do the best job rubbing, rinsing and soaking them when your in that mood?). Please let me tell you about daily disposables or other healthier ways to wear contacts. Stop sleeping in the lenses. Now.

RELATED SCIENTIFIC ARTICLES:

Incidence of keratitis of varying severity among contact lens wearers

Aim: To determine the incidence of non-severe keratitis (NSK)and severe keratitis (SK) among wearers of current generationcontact lenses.

Methods: A 12 month, prospective, hospital based epidemiologicalstudy was conducted by examining all contact lens wearers presentingwith a corneal infiltrate/ulcer to a hospital centre in Manchester.A clinical severity matrix was used to differentiate betweenNSK and SK, based on the severity of signs and symptoms. Thesize of the hospital catchment population and the wearing modalities(daily wear (DW) or extended wear (EW)) and lens types beingused were estimated from relevant demographic and market data.

Conclusions: A clinical severity matrix has considerable utilityin assessing contact lens related keratitis. There is a significantlyhigher incidence of SK in wearers who sleep in contact lensescompared with those who only use lenses during the waking hours.

High-Dk silicone hydrogel (SH) lenses have been shown to significantly decrease the risk of hypoxic complications compared to traditional low-Dk hydrogels. However, the risks of inflammatory complications with SH compared to that of low-Dk lenses are not as clear. A meta-analysis was performed to combine the relevant literature to evaluate the risks of corneal inflammatory events in users of SH and low-Dk hydrogel extended wear lenses. A systematic search was conducted using online databases, unpublished meeting abstracts and retrieval of other cited references presented or published between 1990 and February 2006. Each study was evaluated for quality in terms of the research question, and these quality assessments were used to determine which studies should be used in subgroup analyses.

Twenty-three studies published or presented on either or both arms by February 2006 were selected for analysis. A total of 9,336 subjects and 18,537 eyes comprised the entire sample. Seven studies were published in the 1990s. Eighteen studies (78 percent) were prospective and 11 (48 percent) used randomization. The follow-up ranged from 4 to 36 months, with a median of 12 months. The rates of infiltrates for low-Dk hydrogels and SH lenses were 7.7 and 14.4 per 100 eye-years, respectively. In the subset of five best quality studies, the unadjusted risk ratio for corneal inflammatory events for SH lenses compared to low-Dk lenses was 2.18. Across studies, adjusted risk ratios ranged from 2.18 to 2.23, with strong confounding between material and length of wear.

Based on published or presented studies between 1991 and 2006, there is approximately a twofold higher risk for corneal inflammatory events in users of SH lenses when typically worn for up to 30 days extended wear when compared with low-Dk extended wear lenses when typically worn for seven days extended wear. The increased risk cannot be definitively linked to SH lens materials because the effect of material on outcome is confounded by length of wear.

A case-control study of ulcerative keratitis in soft contact lens (CL) users compared three groups of daily wear or extended wear patients: (a) 86 patients with ulcerative keratitis, (b) 61 hospital-based controls, and (c) 410 population-based controls. Overnight lens use, whether regularly with extended wear lenses or occasionally with daily wear lenses, emerged as the preeminent risk factor for ulcerative keratitis. It increased risk by 10 to 15 times in users of extended wear lenses and by 9 times in users of daily wear lenses when these groups were compared with subjects engaged in strict daily wear of daily wear lenses. Even when actual overnight wear was not taken into account, the relative risk was four times greater in users of extended wear lenses than in users of daily wear lenses. The study found a marginal association (p = 0.056) between lens care frequency in general and ulcerative keratitis in comparing ulcerative keratitis cases with population controls. Of the individual hygiene-related measures, evidence of a protective effect was strongest for cleaning the lens case. Smokers showed a threefold greater risk than nonsmokers, regardless of the type of lens worn. An incidence study found the rate of ulcerative keratitis to be approximately 1 in 2,500 daily wear lens users and 1 in 500 extended wear lens users per year. This finding was statistically consistent with the risk ratio noted in the case-control study. Extrapolations suggest that 4,000 of the 9 million U.S. users of daily wear soft lenses develop ulcerative keratitis annually. Among the 4 million U.S. extended wear soft lens users, 8,000 may do so per year.

From personal computers to laptops and PDAs (personal digital assistants), computers are being used more frequently for both personal and professional needs. With the accessibility of the Internet and email, communication and the exchange of information have never been so easy or convenient.

Unfortunately, for all of the benefits computers provide, there are also some negative consequences involved with computer use. Among these is the effect of computer use on vision. Computer vision syndrome (or CVS) is the commonly used term for vision problems caused by extensive computer use.

Symptoms of CVS – What to Look For

Although the following symptoms may result from other vision problems, they are typical of computer vision syndrome:

eyestrain

headaches

fatigue

burning or tired eyes

dry eyes

loss of focus

blurred vision

double vision

neck and shoulder pain

Computer Vision Syndrome Culprits

Eyestrain and other symptoms associated with computer vision syndrome can be caused by several factors related to both the mechanics of a computer screen and the environment in which you use a computer.

Pixels versus Print

Unlike printed material, text and images on a computer screen are made up of pixels (or minuscule characters). A pixel has more definition or brightness in its center and becomes less defined towards its edge.

The lack of a defined character makes it difficult for your eyes to focus on a computer screen. Because of this, when you use a computer, your eyes may be constantly trying to refocus or shift from the intended focal point to a resting focus point.

Glare and Other Office Setup Factors

The negative effects of trying to focus the eyes on collections of pixels can be compounded by environmental factors. The greatest contributing factor is glare – both direct glare and reflected glare.

Direct glare includes any light source that shines directly into the eyes, including overhead lights, workstation lights, and light from windows. Reflected glare is any glare that reflects off of a computer screen.

Contrast around a workstation (either at work or at home) can also add to the strain on your eyes. Dark monitors against windows, bright walls, or other light backgrounds can contribute to the symptoms of CVS.

Most people prefer a work surface height of about 26 inches for computer use. Desks and tables are usually 29 inches high. Place your computer screen 16 to 30 inches from your eyes. The top of the screen should be slightly below horizontal eye level. Tilt the top of the screen away from you at a 10 to 20 degree angle.

Relief in Sight

Having a job or hobby that requires extended periods of computer use will not necessarily doom you to a lifetime of headaches and blurred vision. There are solutions that help relieve the effects of computer vision syndrome.

Computer Glasses – Giving You a New Look

Even if you already use corrective lenses, you could benefit from computer glasses. The typical distance for viewing a computer screen tends to differ from the distance for seeing near or far objects (most eyewear tends to correct for visual deficiencies at one or both of these distances). Furthermore, if your currently wearing a regular progressive no-line multifocal, you are probably causing undue strain on your neck and back. Because of this, another prescription may be needed for computer work – your eye care professional can tell you for sure.

As an added bonus, an anti-glare coating can be added to the lenses of computer glasses, which helps to alleviate eyestrain.

Even Your Eyes Need a Coffee Break

Incredibly, people tend to blink three times less than their normal rate when staring at a computer monitor. This causes eyes to feel dry and irritated.

A popular method for taking breaks from the computer screen is the 20-20-20 rule. According to this rule, every 20 minutes, you should focus on an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds. By shifting your focus from the computer screen to a distant object and allowing yourself to blink you can reduce the strain and dryness of your eyes. (Contact lens wearers should also use rewetting drops to keep their eyes moist.)

Glare Reduction Feng Shui

Because glare and contrast can contribute to CVS symptoms, it is important that you set up your workstation to minimize these factors. If possible, place your computer so that it is not next to a window. If you cannot avoid direct or reflected glare from a window, try to get a shade for the window. Another solution is to invest in a well-made glare screen for your monitor. (It’s important to avoid low quality glare screens because those may actually make the issue worse instead of better.)

A Final Look at Computer Vision Syndrome

Even if you need to spend your day in front of a computer screen, you don’t have to sacrifice your vision. Talk to your eye care professional to find out if computer glasses can help you make it to the end of the day without the blurred vision and headaches associated with intensive computer use.

The good news is that the eye and vision symptoms and problems of CVS can us ually be alleviated by good eye care and/or by changes in the work environment. You can start right now with these simple 2 steps.

Step 1: Take a CVS Screening Test right now online. See Link below.

This test will help you to:

identify the CVS and related symptoms you experience

allow you to understand the benefits from an CVS examination

evaluate aspects of your work environment which may contribute to your symptoms

suggest improvements in your work environment

The evaluation will take 5-10 minutes. Each step helps you test one or more aspects of your work environment or your vision – your test results are analyzed and the appropriate recommendations are made to you. You should have 2 items for the test:

a ruler or tape to measure distances from your computer screen,

and this acuity chart (PDF) (GIF) (DOC) – please print one of these opt ions

Teachers Believe Clear Vision as Important as Nutrition to Academic SuccessA new survey reveals 93% of teachers believe poor vision impacts a student’s academic performance and 74% of those surveyed have personally observed children falling behind in school due to vision problems. The survey involved 509 kindergarten through 12th grade teachers and was conducted by Russel Research on behalf of Give the Gift of Sight foundation. The teachers surveyed estimated that two in five of their students suffer from vision problems, more than one-third of which they say have not been treated. Other findings include:

• 82% of teachers believe poor vision hinders academic motivation
• 70% believe poor vision negatively affects self-confidence
• 64% believe it affects a child’s ability to enjoy sports and games
• 40% believe poor vision affects a student’s ability to develop social skills.
The teachers surveyed also believe eye care should be provided for underprivileged children, with 88% saying that exams should be offered free of charge for students who can’t afford them, 87% believe these children should receive free vision screenings and 80% think they should receive free prescription eyeglasses. For more information, visit http://www.givethegiftofsight.org.

The word migraine is associated with a vast array of neurological conditions relating to what most people use in reference to a really bad headache. An ocular migraine is often called a silent migraine, acephalgic migraine, sans-migraine, migraine equivalent, eye migraine, visual migraine, ocular migraine, painless migraine or simply migraine aura without headache. The best name is simply a migraine aura without headache.

Other migraines can be divided into two camps; with headache and without headache (acephalgic). Those two categories are then further divided into specific classes as listed below.

AOA Warns Children at Risk for CVSAccording to VSP Vision Care, nearly half of U.S. children spend four or more hours a day using a computer or similar device. The American Optometric Association’s (AOA) 2007 American Eye-Q survey showed that only 16% of respondents are “very” or “extremely” worried about their children damaging their eyes by prolonged use of computers and electronic portable devices. Further, 44% of parents don’t realize that behavioral problems can be an indication that a child’s vision is impaired. The AOA offers these tips for parents:
• Have your child’s vision checked before beginning school.
• Strictly enforce the amount of time that children may continuously use the computer, with a 20 second break for every 20 minutes of use.
• Check the height and arrangement of the computer, which are generally adjusted for adults.
• Check the lighting for glare on the computer screen (try holding a mirror flat against the screen to look for light sources reflecting off the screen).
• Reduce the amount of lighting in the room to match the computer.
For additional information on CVS, visit http://www.aoa.org.

Giant Papillary Conjunctivitis

Giant Papillary Conjunctivitis (GPC) is an immune-mediated, inflammatory disorder that is a response to the presence of an irritant. That irritant can be an allergen, a contact lens, an ocular prosthesis, an exposed postoperative suture (stitch), a contact lens solution or even the dirty deposits of bacteria and buildup that accumulates in and on a contact lens. Basically something interacts with the inside of your eyelid to the point where it becomes irritated and bumpy, leaving your eye very uncomfortable.It is most commonly associated with soft contact lens use, especially contacts that aren’t being thoroughly rubbed cleaned, thrown out frequently and/or are worn for long hours (especially overnight). Although GPC can be extremely uncomfortable and annoying to deal with, it is NOT a dangerous condition and it will not cause permanent vision loss or cause permanent damage to your eyes. It is also ok to go to work, as it is NOT contagious.

Many eye doctor’s call GPC in contact lens wearers Contact Lens Induced Papillary Conjunctivitis (CLPC). CLPC can cause your eyes to feel horrible. Many people will have symptoms that include tearing, significant mucus production, and itching. The eyes will most commonly present as red, irritated and uncomfortable. Sometimes the eyes will even feel worse after the contact lens is removed, because the contact was acting as a protective layer between the sensitive cornea and the bumpy lid that is rubbing against it. The presence of the irritant (ex, prolonged exposure to a dirty contact) leads to the production of giant papillae (bumps) on the under surface of the upper eyelid. One may think of it as a rash in response to touching something irritating, like poison ivy.

Here is what makes sense to me. The longer you wear a contact lens the more irritating it is to your eye. The dirtier the contact lens the more irritating it is to your eye. Therefore the ideal formula for irritating your eye, is wearing a dirty contact for as long as possible.That would also explain why people who sleep in there lenses are 3 times more likely to experience GPC than a normal daily use contact lens wearer. Furthermore, I have personally never seen CLPC exhibited in a patient who uses a brand new lens everyday, ie a daily disposable contact lens wearer. Therefore, I am attributing CLPC in the majority of my contact lens patients to wearing a not so clean contact for too long of a period. The good news is that I can help provide the ways and means to return you to healthy and comfortable contact lens wear.

GPC is a fully reversible condition in the great majority of cases simply discontinuing contact lens wear. I recognize that I would be hard pressed to find a patient who would be 100% compliant with the idea of suspending contact lens wear indefinitely. There for I have adopted the following care package which will get you back into contact lenses as quick as possible. However, I will state that contact lens wearers with significant signs and symptoms of GPC, should ideally discontinue use of contact lenses until a noted improvement of the signs and especially the symptoms of the disorder have resolved. The giant papillae themselves may not fully disappear for many months or years even after removal of the contact lenses although the symptoms will have surely been long resolved. Most likely you will be out of contacts for a few days to about a week.

My treatment plan is highly effective, geared towards the fastest resolution, and the minimization of the chance of recurrence. It most certainly will involve a change into a daily disposable contact if possible. If a daily disposable is not an option, we would implement a strict contact lens hygiene regime consisting of a rub-rinse-soak routine (Opti-Free Replenish or Clear Care) and the most frequently replaced lens available. Finally, cold compress and artificial tears/rewetting drops may be implemented several times daily which may afford additional relief by providing a moisture rich barrier between the lid and the lens. It will also include the use of medication to help return the eyelid to a normal condition and to alleviate the symptoms. Typically Pataday, an antihistamine/mast-cell stabilizer will be utilized. For patients with particularly severe GPC, a short course of corticosteroid eye drops (ie. FML, Alrex, Lotemax) may be prescribed alternatively or in conjunction with the Pataday. Both agents will help to control and suppress certain aspects of the inflammation associated with the GPC, leaving you eye feeling a lot better.

Granular dystrophy is a relatively common autosomal dominant condition that is characterized by deposition of hyaline. The hyaline within the stromal tissue stains with Masson Trichrome.

Granular dystrophy manifests during the first decade of life as sharply demarcated, milky, opaque lesions resembling snowflakes or bread crumbs. The lesions are located in the axial portion of the superficial stroma. Between the dense opacities, the intervening cornea is characteristic clear.

Granular Dystrophy Before Treatment

Granular dystrophy does not require keratoplasty as often as the other familial dystrophies because visual acuity may be good if the clear spaces align with the visual axis. Some patients get a beneficial pinhole effect based on the pattern of lesions.

Recurrent erosions may occur when the basement membrane is involved, but this happens less frequently than in lattice dystrophy. If the lesions coalesce and occlude the visual axis, phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK) or penetrating keratoplasty may be necessary.

Granular Dystrophy After Phototherapeutic Keratectomy

PTK uses the excimer laser to treat corneal surface diseases and scars. PTK is performed by removing the epithelium (or outer skin of the cornea) and then applying the laser to the surface of the cornea. The goal is to produce a smoother and clearer cornea, and not necessarily to reduce dependency upon eyeglasses or contact lenses.

PTK is for those of any age who have corneal surface diseases such as:
• Recurrent epithelial erosion syndrome.
• Shallow corneal scars.
• Corneal dystrophies, such as lattice dystrophy or granular dystrophy.

Keratoconus is a deterioration of the structure of the cornea with gradual bulging from the normal round shape to a cone shape. This condition causes decreased visual acuity. It is frequently discovered during adolescence.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

The cause is unknown. Keratoconus is more common in contact lens wearers and people with nearsighted eyes. Some researchers believe that allergy may play a role.

Symptoms

The earliest symptom is subtle blurring of vision that is not correctable with glasses. (Vision is generally correctable to 20/20 with gas-permeable contact lenses.)

Signs and tests

Keratoconus can usually be diagnosed with slit-lamp examination of the cornea. Early cases may require corneal topography, a test that involves making a stereo image that gives a topographic map of the curvature of the cornea.

When keratoconus is advanced, the cornea may be thinner in areas. This can be measured with a painless test called pachymetry.

Treatment

Contact lenses are the primary treatment and are satisfactory treatment for most patients with keratoconus. Severe cases may require corneal transplantation. Newer technologies may use high frequency radio energy. This energy shrinks the edges of the cornea, which pulls the central area back to a more normal shape. It can help delay or avoid the need for a corneal transplantation.

Expectations (prognosis)

In most cases vision can be corrected with gas-permeable contact lenses. Where corneal transplantation is needed, results are usually good after a long recovery period.

Complications

Patients with keratoconus should not have laser vision correction. Corneal topography is usually done before laser vision correction to rule out people with this condition.

Calling your health care provider

Young persons whose vision cannot be corrected to 20/20 with glasses should be evaluated by an eye doctor experienced with keratoconus.

Prevention

There are no preventive measures. Some specialists believe that patients with keratoconus should have aggressive treatment of ocular allergy and should be instructed not to rub their eyes.

Does the thought of wearing contact lenses late into the day or even overnight make you uncomfortable? Then relax, now there’s a soft, flexible, breathable lens like no other – Biofinity.

Biofinity is made from the breakthrough Aquaform material that allows greater levels of oxygen to freely flow through the lens to the eye. Higher oxygen supply lenses are known to create whiter and healthier looking eyes for most contact lens wearers.

Biofinity also possesses and maintains a high level of water to ensure the lens remains soft and flexible, delivering real comfort through the day and night.

Combining this perfect balance of water and exceptionally high levels of oxygen, Biofinity feels almost as natural as wearing no lenses at all.

† Biofinity lenses are recommended for monthly replacement and are CE Marked under the Medical Device Directive for occasional overnight or up to 29 nights continuous wear under the guidance of your eye care practitioner

Excellent comfort through naturally wettable Aquaform™

Key Features

High oxygen performance

Soft and moist lens material

Round lens edge

Aspheric front surface

Benefits

Better all day comfort

Whiter, healthier eyes

Sharper vision

How It Works

Biofinity is different from other high oxygen lenses because it is manufactured from a naturally wettable material that has a higher water content making it softer for better comfort.AQUAFORM™ is the technology behind the Biofinity comfilcon A material that makes it wettable and is one factor that makes Biofinity such a comfortable lens.AQUAFORM™ is naturally wettable and establishes hydrogen bonds with water molecules holding water within the lens making the lens soft, wettable and resistant to dehydration and resistant to deposits.Biofinity’s unique silicone monomers mean that oxygen is transmitted very efficiently through the lens. The result is a lens with very high oxygen transmission AND a high water content—the high water content makes the lens soft leading to better comfort and fewer mechanical physiological complications such as SEAL (superior epithelial arcuate lesion) and CLPC (contact lens induced papillary conjunctivitis).